Conditions at Nazare in December
December: The XXL Window
December is the statistical peak of the Nazare calendar. Average swell height is 7-8ft (2.1-2.4m), the period runs 12.7 seconds, and ideal offshore wind occurs 51 percent of the time, the highest of the year. The swell rose shows a strong mix of WNW (20.6 percent) and NW (24.1 percent), with W (8.0 percent), WSW (3.4 percent), SW (1.1 percent) and NNW (7.0 percent) filling out the window. Notably, the eastern quadrant is very active in the wind data: E (8.1 percent), ESE (13.7 percent) and SE (8.7 percent) combine to create frequent offshore deltas that groom the giant waves. Water temperature is 14.8°C and air temps average 13.0°C, with significant rain at 2.93 mm/day rolling through on frontal systems. When the maps line up, December is capable of producing the biggest, most perfect canyon waves on Earth.
Average Spot conditions at Nazare in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Nazare during December. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Nazare for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Nazare for December. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Nazare.